Posted October 18, 2009 3:00 p.m.

It was all part of the first ever "Tailgating With The Troops" at the Coliseum.

" We had a son and he left two weeks after our son was born."

Amy Langner hasn't seen her husband since August while he was on leave.

" It gets lonely being the family member at home, waiting for them to get there."

Sunday, Langner drove more than two hours south from her home in Wilton, WI to Madison so she could see her husband and "Tailgate With The Troops."

" Where my husband's at...it's not the best technology. So we haven't been able to Skype a lot so it really depends on where they're at. "

Personal conversations with troops and their families took place in smaller booths.

They were given about 10-minutes to talk but that wasn't the only place where people were able to interact with the soldiers.

About 3,000 people packed the Coliseum to watch one of these huge screens and get a chance to see their loved ones.

The soldiers and their family members were also treated to a free Wisconsin style meal.

Brian Hoag, one of the event's organizers says, " We're going to do the oldstyle Wisconsin themed tailgating party. Brats, cheese curds, sour kraut, the whole bit everything Wisconsin."

The UW pep band was on hand for some pre-game entertainment, plenty of people were sporting their Packers gear and Gov. Doyle was there to take part in the festivities.

He says, " I think it's just wonderful. It's a real tribute to all of the volunteers in Wisconsin--the people who have supported the 32nd and of course it's a chance for us with modern technology to bring everybody together."

For Langner seeing her husband for 10-minutes was well worth the two hour drive.

She says, " I'm just grateful to the people who put this on."

This was the first year for the event. Organizers with Serving the 32nd, the group that organized Sunday's event, say they don't know if they'll do it again next year.